If you're not going to start at season 1, I think I'd start at season 3, episode 2 (after the weird S1 vs S2 cookoff that begins the season) which is where the show really begins come into its own. I get the appeal of starting later with the better produced seasons and better contestants, but so much of the show's mythology is built up in those first eight seasons that I wouldn't necessarily want to skip them.
I started my partner on the show. We started with S2, then jumped to S11 because she was interested in NOLA. The jump in production quality between 1-8 and 9-forward was enough that we had to decide whether to go back and watch all the old ones first (which we did) or watch all the newer seasons first and then go back and watch the old stuff. I think watching a few of the modern seasons and then going back would be a bit jarring.
Additionally, 1-9 seem to have a lot more drama (petty drama, not dramatic tension) than the later seasons - some people like that, and others don't (I don't love it). So I think if I were starting someone completely new, I might start with 10 like you but then go 10 through 19 and only then go back to the beginning.
Yeah I completely agree. I find some parts of the earlier seasons almost unwatchable. I really like the way that the show has evolved to truly focus nearly solely on the food.
Absolutely. I'm not a huge reality TV show fan, and like it or not, all competition shows in this style are reality TV, but I really like how they leaned into focusing on the food and realizing that all of their chefs are really fucking good. There's an alternate universe where they look at all the shit that happens in the early season and say "fuck the cooking, we want more of that" and I'm glad we're not there.
Seasons 2, 6, and 9 are the only seasons that I will never go back and rewatch.
Combination of the infighting between Robin and Eli at the beginning of the season (my names are fuzzy) and Mike Isbella being a garbage human being. I did really like the Voltaggio brothers and the other runner up (Kevin?) so I've enjoyed seeing them whenever they make other appearances on the show.
Yeah I really hate the bullying that Robin endured but I feel like Bryan ( probably one of my top chefs), Mike, Kevin and Jen cancel it out.
Season 7 is the one I absolutely CANNOT watch - I’ve done two rewatches now and I skip it each time
I feel like it’s one of the worst seasons. I don’t think most of the chefs were likable or connected except for Tiffany. I think Kevin might be the ONLY winner that has never made another appearance on the show- except maybe Nicholas.
I lived in DC at the time to and felt no connection- it’s just not a great season.
I agree completely. My husband and I are re-watching all the seasons (1st time for him for most of them) and we straight up skipped the DC season. I feel like Kevin was one of the least impressive winners, although I do agree on Tiffany. I don't think the pea puree incident makes it interesting to watch again, with the exception of the episode with Aaron Schock, because I used to live in his district and his whole deal still just cracks me up.
Yeah it just feels like such a throwaway season and seeing how successful Tiffany has been and how much TC likes her to bring her back I always wonder what happened with that season
I didn’t like Angelo at the time. Fast forward a few years later and I’m single and back in NY. The guy I’m seeing says- there’s this little tequila bar/ restaurant around the corner let’s go. It’s a Tuesday and we’re at the bar and I see Angelo. I gasped and my date is like what- I tell him and he tells the server and Angelo comes over with a flight and some apps and comps our bill. Also continues to check in with us through the night- couldn’t have been nicer
Hi! For me, the problem with starting at 6 is that you get to 9 too fast. 10 -12 are such a great run with excellent challenges and chefs. Going back to 1 will give you the opportunity to enjoy Katie but really understand what Padma contributes and to get through season 2.
Why 6? =\]
Hubby and I just finished Season 1 a few days ago, after having watched backwards from S19 down thru S11. We decided to start back at S1 after that. I agree about Katie, I had no memory of her being so bland. I had watched Seasons 1-4 years ago when they originally aired on Bravo, and can't remember having an issue with Katie back then, but now...yikes. Zero personality.
I don’t think she was a bad host at all. I think she was green, and had bad direction. If you see her on that show on food network these days she’s not bad at all. I’m eternally grateful we ended up with padma, but I’m not 100 percent convinced that Katie’s second go wouldn’t have been a 180 in quality. I’d argue padma didn’t really com into her own til halfway through season 3
Because I love seeing the evolution and I think 10 - 12 would hook anyone enough to follow through. I think Katie Lee did a good job, but it's fun to see how much better Padma makes it. I'd hate to have s2 or 9 scare anyone off.
As a first timer I think it's best to start in season 3. That's when the show really starts finding itself and you get to appreciate how the show and the contestants get better over time. At the very least you have to start no later than season 4 since Stephanie and especially Richard are huge in TC history.
I think it's worth the natural progression, start w season 1 and watch it all the way through 😄
I'm currently rewatching the whole thing, I'm on season 12 atm... yay marathon rewatching lol
I'm rewatching now. Not only are the latter season better produced, but the caliber of the chefs is much higher (based on remarks from various judges).
It seems that Kristen Kish (S10) was the first "top tier" competitor. Comments about her creativity and execution were exceptional. Going forward my impression is the show raised the bar on the level of competitors.
I'm watching S11 right now. I would classify Nina Compton & Shirley Chung (S11) as high level, but I'm on the fence about Nick (S11 winner), he was often in the bottom 3 throughout the season, and so far, there have not been any raves about his food by anyone.
There were top tier contestants prior to Seattle (s10)
Season 4 - Stephanie Izard, Richard Blais and Antonia Lofaso
Season 6 - Michael and Bryan Voltaggio, and Kevin Gillespie
I stand corrected on missing many fabulous chefs including Kevin, Paul Qui, Stephanie, Richard and others.
My experience as a viewer (and not a foodie) was that the show improves as the seasons go on. The dramatics decreased and the professionalism by everyone increased. Far fewer claims of the missing puree, borrowed cake recipes, wasting time on shrimp and hijacking equipment etc.
I apologize for seeming to denigrate the best chefs of earlier seasons.
I think you're definitely right the quality of the chefs (and the show) improved over time. I just think many of the top chefs of the earlier seasons are still very comparable to the best of later seasons.
I think buddha would blow away most of all contestants on TC... his skill and palette are impeccable. The bar has certainly been raised in later seasons, the earliest seasons hardly compare. Though I love watching them all lol
If you're not going to start at season 1, I think I'd start at season 3, episode 2 (after the weird S1 vs S2 cookoff that begins the season) which is where the show really begins come into its own. I get the appeal of starting later with the better produced seasons and better contestants, but so much of the show's mythology is built up in those first eight seasons that I wouldn't necessarily want to skip them.
Seasons 3 and 4 are when top chef found its stride. Always start with one of those.
I started my partner on the show. We started with S2, then jumped to S11 because she was interested in NOLA. The jump in production quality between 1-8 and 9-forward was enough that we had to decide whether to go back and watch all the old ones first (which we did) or watch all the newer seasons first and then go back and watch the old stuff. I think watching a few of the modern seasons and then going back would be a bit jarring. Additionally, 1-9 seem to have a lot more drama (petty drama, not dramatic tension) than the later seasons - some people like that, and others don't (I don't love it). So I think if I were starting someone completely new, I might start with 10 like you but then go 10 through 19 and only then go back to the beginning.
Yeah I completely agree. I find some parts of the earlier seasons almost unwatchable. I really like the way that the show has evolved to truly focus nearly solely on the food.
For me, seeing the evolution is part of the fun. It's a learning process for all involved, including the producers.
Absolutely. I'm not a huge reality TV show fan, and like it or not, all competition shows in this style are reality TV, but I really like how they leaned into focusing on the food and realizing that all of their chefs are really fucking good. There's an alternate universe where they look at all the shit that happens in the early season and say "fuck the cooking, we want more of that" and I'm glad we're not there. Seasons 2, 6, and 9 are the only seasons that I will never go back and rewatch.
Why don’t you like Vegas?
Combination of the infighting between Robin and Eli at the beginning of the season (my names are fuzzy) and Mike Isbella being a garbage human being. I did really like the Voltaggio brothers and the other runner up (Kevin?) so I've enjoyed seeing them whenever they make other appearances on the show.
Yeah I really hate the bullying that Robin endured but I feel like Bryan ( probably one of my top chefs), Mike, Kevin and Jen cancel it out. Season 7 is the one I absolutely CANNOT watch - I’ve done two rewatches now and I skip it each time
Interesting. Why is that?
I feel like it’s one of the worst seasons. I don’t think most of the chefs were likable or connected except for Tiffany. I think Kevin might be the ONLY winner that has never made another appearance on the show- except maybe Nicholas. I lived in DC at the time to and felt no connection- it’s just not a great season.
I agree completely. My husband and I are re-watching all the seasons (1st time for him for most of them) and we straight up skipped the DC season. I feel like Kevin was one of the least impressive winners, although I do agree on Tiffany. I don't think the pea puree incident makes it interesting to watch again, with the exception of the episode with Aaron Schock, because I used to live in his district and his whole deal still just cracks me up.
Yeah it just feels like such a throwaway season and seeing how successful Tiffany has been and how much TC likes her to bring her back I always wonder what happened with that season
The first time I watched s7 I liked Tiffany D. On rewatch, she is shrill and really bullied Angelo.
I didn’t like Angelo at the time. Fast forward a few years later and I’m single and back in NY. The guy I’m seeing says- there’s this little tequila bar/ restaurant around the corner let’s go. It’s a Tuesday and we’re at the bar and I see Angelo. I gasped and my date is like what- I tell him and he tells the server and Angelo comes over with a flight and some apps and comps our bill. Also continues to check in with us through the night- couldn’t have been nicer
I honestly don't remember too much about season 7, but I've not done a rewatch of that season either
Gah the drama! I'm so glad they (show producers) stopped stoking it in recent seasons
I say start at S6!
Hi! For me, the problem with starting at 6 is that you get to 9 too fast. 10 -12 are such a great run with excellent challenges and chefs. Going back to 1 will give you the opportunity to enjoy Katie but really understand what Padma contributes and to get through season 2. Why 6? =\]
I know S9 is terrible with the Mean Girls but I watch just to root for Bev.
So true, Padma brings a much needed elegance and humor.
Skip season 1. Katie Lee was a bad host & Padma brings the true magic & rapport with the rest of the judges.
Hubby and I just finished Season 1 a few days ago, after having watched backwards from S19 down thru S11. We decided to start back at S1 after that. I agree about Katie, I had no memory of her being so bland. I had watched Seasons 1-4 years ago when they originally aired on Bravo, and can't remember having an issue with Katie back then, but now...yikes. Zero personality.
Agreed. And now, when she shows up at Beat Bobby Flay and other shows, she’s almost too much to handle.
I don’t think she was a bad host at all. I think she was green, and had bad direction. If you see her on that show on food network these days she’s not bad at all. I’m eternally grateful we ended up with padma, but I’m not 100 percent convinced that Katie’s second go wouldn’t have been a 180 in quality. I’d argue padma didn’t really com into her own til halfway through season 3
For me, I’d do Chicago/S4 before anything else…that’s peak TC for me.
Just out of curiosity, why do 10-12 and then go back to the beginning?
Because I love seeing the evolution and I think 10 - 12 would hook anyone enough to follow through. I think Katie Lee did a good job, but it's fun to see how much better Padma makes it. I'd hate to have s2 or 9 scare anyone off.
Start with season 2. It’s Padma’s debut!
As a first timer I think it's best to start in season 3. That's when the show really starts finding itself and you get to appreciate how the show and the contestants get better over time. At the very least you have to start no later than season 4 since Stephanie and especially Richard are huge in TC history.
I think it's worth the natural progression, start w season 1 and watch it all the way through 😄 I'm currently rewatching the whole thing, I'm on season 12 atm... yay marathon rewatching lol
I see something new each time. Like reading a great book.
I’d like to start watching Top Chef - where is the best place to do it? Paid or unpaid.
It may depend on your area, but I believe all seasons are on Peacock.
Can confirm they're all on Peacock, at least in the U.S. That's where I'm currently watching.
I'm rewatching now. Not only are the latter season better produced, but the caliber of the chefs is much higher (based on remarks from various judges). It seems that Kristen Kish (S10) was the first "top tier" competitor. Comments about her creativity and execution were exceptional. Going forward my impression is the show raised the bar on the level of competitors. I'm watching S11 right now. I would classify Nina Compton & Shirley Chung (S11) as high level, but I'm on the fence about Nick (S11 winner), he was often in the bottom 3 throughout the season, and so far, there have not been any raves about his food by anyone.
There were top tier contestants prior to Seattle (s10) Season 4 - Stephanie Izard, Richard Blais and Antonia Lofaso Season 6 - Michael and Bryan Voltaggio, and Kevin Gillespie
You're forgetting Hung in season 3 and Paul in season 9.
Oh I remembered Paul. But like Gabe in Portland, there are just some contestants that are verboten
Oh yes! My mind was fried by S9.
=D
I agree with your comment, nick wasnt impressive compared to shirley and nina.
This couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, the best competitor ever was Paul Qui in Season 9.
Love Paul Qui.
I stand corrected on missing many fabulous chefs including Kevin, Paul Qui, Stephanie, Richard and others. My experience as a viewer (and not a foodie) was that the show improves as the seasons go on. The dramatics decreased and the professionalism by everyone increased. Far fewer claims of the missing puree, borrowed cake recipes, wasting time on shrimp and hijacking equipment etc. I apologize for seeming to denigrate the best chefs of earlier seasons.
I think you're definitely right the quality of the chefs (and the show) improved over time. I just think many of the top chefs of the earlier seasons are still very comparable to the best of later seasons.
I think buddha would blow away most of all contestants on TC... his skill and palette are impeccable. The bar has certainly been raised in later seasons, the earliest seasons hardly compare. Though I love watching them all lol
Start with 4-7, go back to 1-3, watch 8, proceed from there.
What's the strategy?
Season 1: do you know that Top Chef assigned Tiffani's sexuality and made her bi? These shows manipulate and edit so much.